Palm padded sports aid



Od- 3, 1967 F. F. sruBvBs PALM PDDED SPORTS AID 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1966 .INVENTOR mw, H @uw 90M@ Ff# MP., @Y

Oct. 3, 1967 F. F. sTLJsBs 3,344,436

' PALM PADDED SPORTS AID Filed June 29, 196e l 2 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. FQANK F STL/BBS A T Toe/JE y nited States Patent O 3,344,436 PALM PADDED SPORTS AID Frank F. Stubbs, 6718 Alcove Ave., North Hollywood, Calif. 91606 Filed June 29, 1966, Ser. No. 563,928 17 Claims. (Cl. 2159) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An aid for bowling and other similar `games involvin-g the use of a playing member which is Iheld in the hand in such a way that a void normally exists between the fmember and the palm of the hand, the aid having a wrist band and an elongate resiliently compliant cushion detachably secured `at one end, by readily releasable means, to the wrist band and projecting well beyond an edge of the band for extension across the palm and toward the fingers of the hand to fill the void between the playing member and palm.

This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 507,857 filed Nov. 15, 1965, by Frank F. Stubbs, entitled, Palm Padded Sports Aid, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to aids or devices utilized in sports activities and, more particularly, to la palm pad strategically anchored to the palm of a players hand by means of a wrist support in the form of a band and an elastic finger support whereby a player such as a bowler may more readily and more comfortably hold a bowling ball before and during his delivery thereof to the alley floor.

In playing the game of bowling, for example, when a bowling ball is gripped -between the thumb and one or more fingers of a bowlers hand, there is a space presented between the ball and the palm of the players hand, particularly between the surface of the ball and the deep, cuplike portion of the palm of the hand formed approximately in the center thereof when the ball is so held. Some attempts have been made in the past to provide a bowling accessory which may be anchored to the players hand in such a manner as to occupy the space presented -between the surface of the ball and the palm of the hand. Such a prior attempt is shown in U.S. Patent 2,738,190 which comprises a cushion pad having a generally convex configuration so as to substantially mate with the cavity of the bowlers palm when the bowlers hand is holding a bowling ball between the thumb and one or more fingers. Furthermore, -a preformed surface of the palm pad is substantially concave with a radius of curvature substantially the same as that of a standard bowling ball whereby when in engagement with the bowling ball, substantially uniform and complete engagement is effected throughout this entire surface of the pad.

However, difiiculties have been encountered with such prior art devices which stem largely 4from the fact that the contour of a players pal-m changes substantially during the actual throwing or delivery procedure of the bowling ball so that such pre-formed devices as represented by the above-identified patent no longer conform to the curvature of the players palm and therefore the space between the players palm and the surface of the ball is not occupied by the pad as intended. Furthermore, the curvature of a persons hand will change from person to person and the pre-fopmed pad of the prior art is not adapted to accommodate the various curvatures which are encountered when comparing the curvature of a persons hand from one person to another. Consequently, undesirable space, ygaps and unoccupied areas exist between the palm of the hand and the surface of the ball.

An additional problem has been encountered when attempting to employ prior art devices for occupying the space between the palm of the hand and the surface of the ball stems from the fact that the pad portion of the device is difficult to secure to the hand so that various movements of the hand during play will not dislodge the pad from the critical area including and surrounding the hand pal-m. Such an anchoring means should insure that the cushion or pad carried by the :device will be maintained in this critical area during the time that the player is holding the bowling ball before and during the delivery thereof to the alley floor.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel palm padded device adapted to fill the void or space existing -between the palm of the hand and the surface of the ball so that the palm of the hand may be employed to aid in the support of the bowling ball, whereby a better balance thereof in the palm may be achieved which will result -in greater accuracy `and skill in the game of the bowler.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel palm padded device that achieves complete surface contact with the palm of the hand of a player on one side 1and complete contact with the surface of the bowling ball on its opposite side.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel palm padded device to be used in the game of bowling that is economical in manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel bowling `aid device which includes an adjust able palm pad which is readily secured and supported from a wrist supported band whereby the cushion pad ymay l`be selectively located with respect to the curvature of the players palm so as to form fit therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide `a novel bowling aid which includes a detachable cushion pad adapted to be selectively located in a critical area of a players pal-m whereby the pad is anchored to the hand by looped engagement of the pad with `a finger of the hand and by means of a hook and pile fastener to a supporting wrist support band.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bowling device which includes a palm pad detachably supported from -a wrist strap on one end and which is anchored on its opposite end by means of an expandable loop to lone of the fingers of a player so that a portion of the strain induced into the pad will be transferred into the wrist supporting band.

Accordingly, the novel sports device of the present invention `comprises a cushion pad for the palm of the hand which is detachably connected to a band which will fit different size hands and wrists while covering the wrist and portions of the forearm and forehand in order to 'brace the wrist joint as well as to cover the valley and irregular contour of a players hand during the play of a sports event. The band is provided with a thumb hole which keeps the wrist support in proper location about the wrist and prevents it from creeping upwardly on the forearm. By utilizing a hook and pile tape, commonly known in the trade by the trademark Velcro, it is possible to tightly fasten the band about the wrist and to lock it in the most convenient position since it is not necessary to line up female and male members of snaps or other types of fastening devices or to select the nearest buckle opening on a strap. r1`he wrist supporting band is employed to anchor one end of the cushion pad while an expandable finger loop is employed to anchor the opposite end of the pad to a finger extremity von the players hand. inasmuch as one end of the pad is detachably connected to the wrist support, a feature of the invention resides in the employment of a pile and hook fastener for so anchoring such that the pad may be readily disposed in critical areas of the players hand so as to come into contacting engagement with the palm surface during the course of play. When the device is initially assembled on the players hand, the anchoring loop for one end of the pad may serve as a pivot point about which the pad may move into the strategic location on the users palm after which the opposite end of the pad may be secured or anchored to the wrist support band.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the pad may merely downwardly depend from the supporting wrist band so that its free end terminates at the palm area of the finger roots. In this fashion, the pad is anchored to the wrist band by the hook and pile fastener and the pad lies across the critical area of the users palm.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a palm padded sports aid suitable for use in the game of bowling and illustrated as being worn on the right hand of a player;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the sports device of FIGURE l showing the position of the cushion pad in the palm of the hand of a player;

4FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the palm pad incorporated into the sports device illustrated in FIG- URE 2 as taken in the direction of arrows 3 3 thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the sports device illustrated in`FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the palm pad being anchored to another finger extremity of the players hand;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a palm pad anchored on the wrist band;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the palm pad incorporated into the sports device illustrated in FIGURE 5 as taken in the direction of arrows 6 6 thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the modified palm pad employed in the device of FIGURES 5 and 6.

The device of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings can be utilized on either the left or right hand depending on which wrist is to be reinforced. The device is particularly suitable for bracing the particular wrist involved in the playing of various sports, such as in bowling and golf. However, it is to be understood that the device can also be utilized in other sports, such as tennis or weight lifting, and in archery where both wrists of the user can be braced for better performance.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, one embodiment of the present invention is indicated in the direction of arrow 10 which incorporates a wraparound wrist support device as indicated by numeral 11. The wrist device includes a thumb hole 12 formed in a length of suitable iiexible material so oriented and disposed that the ends thereof are wrapped around the wrist with an end 13 being secured by a conventional hook and pile tape 14, commonly known in the trade by the trademark Velcro, at the back of the wrist. Such as fastener is employed to tightly fasten the band 11 around the Wrist and to lock it in the most convenient position since it is not necessary to line up female and male members of snaps or other types of fastening devices or to select the nearest buckle opening in a strap. The pile member of the tape 14 consists of a group of relatively fine fibers and the hook member thereof consists of spaced, upstanding hook elements. When the fastening members are pressed together, the fibers are held together by the hooks and considerable force is required to disconnect the members.

It is to be particularly noted that the band 11 includes a section 15 adjacent the thumb hole which crosses the front of the hand in a diagonal direction from a side 16 of the hand across the heel thereof to a location on the opposite side of the hand between the thumb and index finger thereof.

The most important feature of the present invention, however, resides in the treatment of the palm or front side of the hand. As hereinbefore indicated, the center of the palm of the hand is normally some distance from the curved surface of the ball. It is at this strategic location of the sports aid when worn by the hand that a cushioned pocket is provided as indicated in the direction of arrow 17. The cushion material incorporated into the pocket is readily deformable so that the curvature of the opposite sides thereof matches that of the bowling ball and the surface of the palm as it is tieXed during the course of play. To secure the cushion pocket in position, a length of tape 18, similar in form to the hook and pile tape 14, is secured along the under edge of the support section 15 of the band 11 which is adjacent the palm of the hand. The pocket 17 includes an inner layer 20 disposed against the skin of the palm and an outer layer 21 intended to contact the surface of a bowling ball. Preferably, the layers 20 and 21 are fabricated from a suitable leather or leather-like material whereby the edge marginal regions of the layers may be secured together such :as by stitching, for example, so as to provide a receiving chamber or receptacle therebetween as indicated in the general direction of arrow 22. The pocket 17 further includes a reduced loop end 23 which is employed to retain an elastic ring 24 which passes through the loop end 23 and is in position to be inserted through one of the lingers 25 of the hand.

The layer 21 is provided with a tape portion 26 for cooperating with the tap-e 18 for effecting a grip therebetween so as to retain the upper end of the pocket in position on the front of the hand. Insertably disposed within the receiving chamber 22 of the pocket 17, there is provided a cushion member such as foam rubber wedge 27 which is held between the layers 20 and 21 in the critical location of the hand palm. The wedge may be of yany suitable material but preferably, the wedge should at least have some eXibility and resiliency such as encountered with materials as foam rubber, felt, rubber, and also some plastics. When in use, the hand with the wedge build up disposed within the pocket will successfully conform with and to the curvature of the bowling ball as well as the hand of the wearer. It is also to be noted that the wedge 27 decreases in thickness as it extends both forwardly toward the fingers of the hand so that the cushion pocket or pad will automatically fill the space normally existing Eeiveen the heel of the palm of the band and the bowling a In assembling the device 17 on the hand of a player, the loop 24 may be placed over any one of the fingers, preferably the middle finger 25 as shown, and then the tapes 18 and 26 are pressed together to locate the cushion pocket 17 over the recessed portion of the palm. As indicated in FIGURE 2 by the broken line position of the pocket 17, the pocket can be moved laterally across the palm of the hand into any comfortable position before the tapes 26 and 18 are locked together. Furthermore, as noted with respect to FIGURE 4, the final lateral position of the cushion pocket or pad can be modified by selecting 'any one of the fingers of the hand about which the elastic band 24 may be anchored.

Furthermore, an adjustable, non-elastic band or strap means may -be substituted for the elastic band 24 as illustrated, and other means than stitching may be employed for securing the edge marginal regions of the layers 20 and 21 together. It is contemplated that even a passageway may be formed through the body of the pocket in the location of loop 23 through which one of the fingers of the hand may be inserted, thus avoiding the necessity of elastic bands or other similar anchcoring means. Although the pile and hook fastener is shown, it is contemplated, of course, that this type of securing is but one of the many that might be employed and it is even contemplated, in fact, that perhaps a tacky substance might be coated on the end of the pocket to be secured to the band which would by adhesion hold the cushion pocket or pad satisfactorily in the users palm. However, an advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the fact that mating of cooperating fastening members such as hooks, snaps or the like is avoided and that therefore, the fastener employed to retain the end of the pocket or pad to the band 11 as shown and described may be more accurately and conveniently Vanchored to the band 11 than is otherwise possible.

Referring now to FIGURES 5-7 inclusive, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow 30 that incorporates the wraparound wrist support device 11 previously described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. The wrist device includes the thumb hole 12 and the hook and pile tape fastener 14. Also, the tape 18 is employed in the same fashion as previously described. In this embodiment, a cushioned pocket is provided las indicated in the direction of arrow 31. The cushioned pocket 31 is substantially similar to the pocket 17 with the departure therefrom in that the end of the pocket opposite to its end anchored to the tape 18 terminates in a free end 32 adjacent the root of the fingers without anchoring thereto. The pocket 31 includes an inner layer 33 disposed against the skin of the palm and an outer layer 34 intended to contact the surface of the bowling ball. The edge marginal regions of the layers may be secured together such as by stitching, for example, so as to provide a receiving chamber or receptacle therebetween as indicated in the general direction of arrow 35. The pocket 31 further includes a reduced terminating end portion 32 which is adapted to rest against the root of a finger or fingers when the device is worn by a player.

The layer 34 is provided with a tape portion 36 for cooperating with the tape 18 to effect a gripping relationship so as to retain the upper end of the cushioned pocket in position on the front of the hand. There is provided a cushion member 37 such as may be represented by a foam rubber wedge that is held between the layers 33 and 34 respectively in the critical location of the hand palm,

As indicated more clearly in FIGURES 5 and 7, the terminating free end 32 of the cushioned pad is completely stitched about its edge marginal region to close off the terminating end so that the pocket area 35 is completely enclosed by the layers 33 and 34 except for the opening at the top of the pad leading into the receptacle 35.

To assemble the cushioned pad 31 to the wrist band 11, the pad is initially positioned to a comfortable and desired location on the palm of the hand and tape portion 36 is slipped under the wrist band to engage with the corresponding tape 18 so that the upper end of the cushioned pad is anchored thereto. In this position, the cushioned pad is downwardly depending from the wrist band extending across the critical area of the hand palm so that the terminating end 32 of reduced width and thickness is disposed adjacent to the finger root.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention; therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving a hand held playing member comprising:

a strap adapted to be wrapped around the wrist of the player;

an elongated cushioning means free at one end and 6 detachably connected at its opposite end to said strap;

means for removably securing said strap at one end to the players wrist so as to extend a portion thereof across the palm of the players hand;

means for detachably securing said cushioning means to said strap portion so that the fixed end of said cushioning means is adapted to be located adjacent the heel of the players palm and the free end of said cushioning means adapted to extend loosely over the major valley or recess portion of the players palm toward the fingers of the players hand; and

means carried by said free end of said cushioning means adapted to be releasably anchored to a selected one of the players fingers whereby said cushioning means is maintained within the palm valley or recess portion.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises:

a hook member and a pile member adapted to be pressed together into a holding relationship.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said cushioning means comprises:

a pocket having a receptacle formed therein for receiving a wedge cushion therein; and

said wedge cushion formed with a reduced thickness at its end adapted to be closest to the lingers of the players hand.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said anchoring means includes a band loop adapted to maintain said cushioning means in position against the players palm.

5. A sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving the throwing or delivering of a hand held playing member comprising:

an elongated fiexible strap having a thumb hole formed therein adapted to be wrapped around the wrist of the player;

an elongated hollow pocket free at one end and detachably connected at its opposite end to said strap;

pressure sensitive tape means for removably securing said strap at one end to the players wrist whereby a selected portion thereof extends `diagonally across the upper palm region of the players hand;

pressure sensitive tape means for detachably securing said pocket to said strap selected portion so that the fixed end of said pocket is adapted to be located adjacent the heel of the players palm and the free end of said pocket adapted to extend loosely over the major valley or recess portion of the players palm toward the fingers of the players hand;

a resilient pre-formed wedge removably disposed within said pocket of sufficient thickness to fill major gaps which may exist between the surface of the playing member and the surface of the palm; and

elastic loop means carried by said free end of said pocket adapted to be releasably secured to a selected one of the players fingers whereby said pocket is mainlained substantially within the palm of the players and.

6. In a sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving the throwing or delivering of a handheld playing member including a wraparound wrist band having a thumb' hole and opposite ends which are wr-apped around the wrist and secured thereon by a fastener so that a portion of the band angularly vcrosses the players palm from one side of the hand to the opposite side thereof beneath the thumb, a novel palm which comprises:

.an elongated cushion pad detachably connected on one end to the angularly disposed portion of the wrist band and having its other end free to extend across the players palm tow-ard the fingers;

means for detachably securing said pad to the band so that the first mentioned end of said pad is adapted to be located adjacent the heel of the players palm and the second mentioned end of said pad is adapted to extend loosely over the center of the palm; and

loop means carried by said second mentioned end of said pad adapted to be releasably anchored to a selected one of the players fingers whereby said pad is maintained against the center of the palm during the course of play.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said pad includes:

a receptacle and an opening leading into said receptacle facing the wrist band; and

a pre-formed wedge of resilient material removably insertable into said pad receptacle via said pad openlng.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said securing means includes mating members of pressure sensitive tape wherein one member is carried on` said pad by its first mentioned end and the other member is carried on the under side of the band portion adapted to cross the palm of the hand.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said securing means presents a substantially large fastening area for effecting fastening of said pad to the band so that said pad may be pivoted about said loop means laterally across the palm to a critical location whereby a selected portion of said fastening area is employed.

10. A sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving a hand held playing member comprising:

a strap adapted to be wrapped around the wrist of the player;

means for removably securing said str-ap .at one end to the players wrist so as to extend a portion thereof across the palm of the players hand; an elongate resiliently compliant cushioning means; and

readily releasable and re-engageable means for detachably securing one end of said cushioning means to said strap portion so that said one end of said cushioning means is adjustable relative to said strap and the other end of said cushioning means extends well beyond an edge of said strap portion, whereby said one end of said cushioning means is adapted to be located adjacent the heel of the players palm and the other end of said cushioning means is adapted to extend over the major valley or recess portion of the players palm toward the fingers of the players hand.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10` wherein said securing means comprises:

a hook member and a pile member `adapted to be pressed together into a holding relationship.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein such cushioning means comprises:

a pocket having a receptacle formed therein for receiving a wedge cushion therein; and

said wed-ge cushion formed with a reduced thickness at its end adapted to be closest to the fingers of the players hand.

13. A sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving the throwing or delivering of a hand held playing member comprising:

an elongated flexible strap having a thumb hole formed therein adapted to be wrapped around the wrist of the player;

an elongated hollow pocket free at one end and detach- `ably connected at its opposite end to said strap;

8 pressure sensitive tape means for removably securing said strap at one end to the players wrist whereby Aa selected portion thereof extends diagonally across the upper palm region of the players hand;

5 pressure sensitive tape means for detachably securing said pocket to said strap selected portion so that the fixed end of said pocket is adapted to be located adjacent the heel of the players palm and the free end of said pocket is adapted to extend loosely over the major valley or recess portion of t-he players palm toward the fingers of the players hand; and

a resilient pre-formed Wedge removably disposed within said pocket of sufficient thickness to fill major gaps which may exist between the surface of the playing member and the surface of the palm. 14. In a sports device for improving a players performance in a sports event involving the throwing or delivering of a hand held playing member including a wraparound wrist band having a thumb hole and opposite ends which are wrapped around the wrist and secured thereon by a fastener so that a portion of the band angularly crosses the players palm from one side of the hand to the opposite side thereof beneath the thumb, a novel palm pad which comprises:

an elongated resiliently complaint cushion pad detachably connected on one end to the angularly disposed portion of the wrist band and having its other end projecting well beyond an edge of the band for extension across the players palm toward the fingers;

readily releasable and re-engageable means for detachably securing said' pad to the band so that said one end of said pad is adjustable relative to the band to a position adjacent the heel of the players palm and said other end of said pad is adapted to extend over the center of the palm.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said pad includes:

a receptacle and an opening leading into said receptacle facing the wrist band; and

a pre-formed wedge of resilient material removably insertable into said pad receptacle via said pad opening.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein said sec-uring means includes mating members of pressure sensitive tape wherein one member is carried on said pad by its first mentioned end and the other member is Carried on the underside of the band portion adapted to cross the palm of the hand.

17. The invention .as defined in claim 16 wherein said securing means presents a substantially large fastening area for effecting fastening of said pad to the band so that said pad may be pivoted about said loop means laterally across the pal-m to a critical location whereby a selected 5 portion of said fastening area is employed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,045 10/1876 Dunlop 2-20 X 1,377,106 5/1921 Suhr 2-20 X 2,214,576 9/11940 Clark 2,-20 3,031,680 5/ 1962 Compiano 2-159 3,105,972 lO/ 1963 Christopher Z--l61 3,123,832 3/1964 Kubik 2--161 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Exam-inet'. 

1. A SPORTS DEVICE FOR IMPROVING A PLAYER''S PERFORMANCE IN A SPORTS EVENT INVOLVING A HAND HELD PLAYING MEMBER COMPRISING: A STRAP ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE WRIST OF THE PLAYER; AN ELONGATED CUSHIONING MEANS FREE AT ONE END AND DETACHABLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO SAID STRIP; MEANS FOR REMOVEBLY SECURING SAID STRAP AT ONE END TO THE PLAYER''S WRIST SO AS TO EXTEND A PORTION THEREOF ACROSS THE PALM OF THE PLAYER''S HAND; MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID CUSHIONING MEANS TO SAID STRAP PORTION SO THAT THE FIXED END OF SAID CUSHIONING MEANS IS ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED ADJACENT THE HEEL OF THE PLAYER''S PALM AND THE FREE END OF SAID CUSHIONING MEANS ADAPTED TO EXTEND LOOSELY OVER THE MAJOR VALLEY OR RECESS PORTION OF THE PLAYER''S PALM TOWARD THE FINGERS OF THE PLAYER''S HAND; AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FREE END OF SAID CUSHIONING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY ANCHORED TO A SELECTED ONE OF THE PLAYER''S FINGERS WHEREBY SAID CUSHIONING MEANS IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE PALM VALLEY OR RECESS PORTION. 